Crown sizer with locking mechanism

ABSTRACT

A crown sizer for mounting to a post of hanger. The sizer includes a body having a split-wall construction to allow expansion of the body during installation of the body about the post of the hanger. The body further includes a locking mechanism for locking the body into a closed position following installation of the sizer about the post.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/841,483 Filed Aug. 31, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a crown sizer and, more particularly,to a crow%,n sizer with a locking mechanism for mounting about the postof a metal hook hanger.

Various types of hangers are used in the retail industries. One suchhanger is formed from a plastic body having a threaded post on its upperedge. A metal hook is threaded into this post to provide what iscommonly referred to as a metal hook hanger.

Although size indicators are commonly used with plastic hook hangers(i.e., a hanger having both a plastic body and plastic hook), the use ofsize indicators on metal hook hangers has proven more challenging. Onesuch size indicator available for metal hook hangers is referred to as acrown sizer, and is disclosed in U.S. Publication No. 2006/0006204 A1.The sizers disclosed in this publication are intended to be passed overthe metal hook and “snapped” into position about the post of the hanger.These sizers, however, have several shortcomings. For example theability of such crown sizers to remain engaged with the hanger variesfrom hanger to hanger due to differences in design and tolerancesbetween the various manufacturers. Moreover, certain of these sizers aredesigned for easier installation, which tends to make the engagementless permanent and prone to unwanted disassembly. Finally, the moreelaborate designs present manufacturing challenges, as well as issueswith both the installation and retention of the sizer on the hanger.

There is therefore a need in the art for a crown sizer which is moreeasily manufactured, which can be readily installed about the post of ametal hook hanger, and which will remain securely engaged to the hanger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, which addresses the needs of the prior art,relates to a sizer for mounting to a post of a hanger. The sizerincludes a body configured to surround at least a portion of the post.The body is formed with a split-wall construction to allow expansion ofthe body during installation of the body about the post. The bodyfurther includes a locking mechanism for locking the boded into a closedposition following installation about the post.

In one preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism includes cooperatinginterfitting structure located on a sidewall of the sizer body. In astill further preferred embodiment, the cooperating interfittingstructure includes a groove disposed on a first edge of the sidewall anda rib disposed on a second edge of the sidewall, wherein the rib isconfigured to engage the groove when the body is locked into the closedposition.

The present invention further relates to the combination of a hanger anda sizer. The hanger includes a hanger body, a hook-receiving postextending from the hanger body, and a pair of struts connected to thehanger body and located on opposing sides of the posts. The posts andstruts define at least one engagement cavity. The sizer includes a sizerbody configured to surround at least a portion of the post. The sizerbody is Conned with a split-wall construction to allow expansion of thesizer body during installation of the sizer body about the post. Thesizer body further includes a locking mechanism for locking the sizerbody into a closed position following installation about the post.

As a result, the present invention provides a sizer which can be easilyand cost effectively manufactured, which can be readily installed aboutthe post of a metal hook hanger without requiring excessive force, andwhich will remain securely engaged to the hanger during usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a top view of a crown sizer formed in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 1 b is a front perspective view of the sizer of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1 c is a bottom perspective view of the sizer of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a conventional hanger;

FIG. 2 a is an enlarged detail of the post portion of the hanger of FIG.2;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the sizer of FIG. 1 positioned over the hook ofthe hanger;

FIG. 3 a is a view showing the sizer of FIG. 1 being installed about thepost of the hanger;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the sizer of FIG. 1 being loosely positionedabout the post of the hanger;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative sizer formed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the sizer of FIG. 5 looselypositioned about the post of the hanger;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the sizer of FIG. 5 locked into theclosed position about the post of the hanger;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view showing the sizer of FIG. 5 lockedinto the closed position about the post of the hanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 a-1 c, a crown sizer 10 formed in accordance withthe present invention is shown. Sizer 10 includes a body 11, and issized and configured to mount about the post of a metal hook hanger,e.g., post 12 of hanger 14, as shown in FIG. 2. Post 12 extends fromhanger body 15, and is preferably formed integrally therewith. Hanger 14further includes a metal hook 16 having a threaded end 11 whichthreadingly engages the interior of post 12. In one preferredembodiment, hanger 14 is molded with a pair of opposing struts 20 asbest seen in FIG. 2 a. A cavity 22 is defined between each of the strutsand post 12. Of course, it is contemplated herein that the constructionof post 12 and struts 20 can vary in size and configuration from thatshown in FIGS. 2-2 a.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a sizer must be both 1)easily securable to the hanger, and 2) capable of remaining secured tothe hanger during normal usage (i.e., the sizer should remain on thehanger in a child proof manner). As discussed above, the prior art hasbeen unable to provide a crown sizer for a metal hook which meets bothof these criteria. In contrast, the sizers of the present invention arecapable of being easily mounted about the post of a metal hook hangerand of remaining secured to the hanger during normal usage.

The sizers of the present invention fulfill these dual goals through theunique configuration of such sizers. More particularly, the sizers ofthe present invention, e.g., sizer 10, are formed with a split-wallconstruction which defines an opening 24 in one wall of the sizer. Thesplit-wall construction configuration allows the sizer to be easilyinstalled over hook 16 (see FIG. 3) and to be positioned about post 20(see FIG. 3 a). In this regard, sidewalls 26 are capable of being spreadapart about end wall 28 because of the split-wall configuration of suchsizer. The spreading apart of the sidewalls thus allows tabs 30 locatedon the interior of sidewalls 26 to pass over post 12 and struts 20 andengage cavities 22. Once tabs 30 are positioned within cavities 22, theexpanding force applied to side walls 26 is removed. At this point, thesizer is loosely positioned about tile post and struts (see FIG. 4).

In addition, it has been discovered herein that the split-wallconstruction allows tabs 30 to be configured to more closely match andto more fully engage cavities 22, which results in a more secureattachment between the sizer and the hanger. Moreover, the split-wallconstruction allows the wall thicknesses of the sizer to be increasedfor enhanced rigidity. In contrast, the prior art crown sizers whichlack the novel split-wall construction of the present sizers must beforced over and into engagement with the post of the hanger. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that this prior art designnecessarily limits the extent to which the interior protrusions canengage the cavities formed aside the post, or any other such cavityformed on the post. It also limits the ability to increase the rigidityof the sizer.

As shown in FIGS. 1 a-1 c, sizer 10 includes a locking mechanism, i.e.,cooperating mechanical structure on opposing sides of opening 24 forlocking the sizer into a closed position once properly located on thehanger. In one preferred embodiment, one edge of opening 24 includes arib 34, while the other edge of opening 24 includes a groove 36 forlockably receiving rib 34. Of course, it is contemplated herein thatother cooperating structure can be used to lock the sizer into theclosed position. Once closed, tabs 30 securely engage cavities 22 tolock the sizer onto the hanger. The cooperation of tabs 30 and cavities22 prevents removal of the sizer from the hanger under normalconditions. In fact, removal of the sizer typically requires thedisengagement of the cooperating mechanical structure positioned alongend wall 32.

An alternative embodiment of the present sizer is shown in FIGS. 5-8. Inparticular, sizer 100 is ring-shaped. The height H of sizer 100 can bevaried as desired. Like sizer 10, sizer 100 includes a body 101 havingan opening i.e., opening 102, formed on one end to provide the sizerwith a split-wall configuration. Sizer 100 further includes cooperatingmechanical structure on opposing sides of opening 102 for locking thesizer into a closed position once properly located on the hanger. In onepreferred embodiment, one edge of opening 102 includes a rib 134, whilethe other edge of opening 102 includes a groove 136 for lockablereceiving rib 134. Of course, it is contemplated herein that othercooperating structures can be use to lock the sizer into the closedposition. It is further contemplated herein that the shape of the sizercan vary from that shown in the two embodiments illustrated herein.

Sizer 100 is shown positioned about post 112 of hanger 114 in FIG. 6.Tabs 130 are generally aligned with cavities 122 when sizer 100 ispositioned about post 112, but before the sizer is locked into theclosed position.

Turning now to FIGS. 7 and 8, sizer 100 is shown in the closed position,i.e., after the interfitting mechanical structure located along opening102 has been lockingly-engaged. The locking of the sizer causes tabs 130to push into and securely engage cavities 122. Engagement of tabs 130with cavities 122 prevents the removal of sizer 100 from hanger 114under normal conditions. In fact, to remove sizer 100 from hanger 114typically requires the disengagement of the cooperating mechanicalstructure.

It will be appreciated that the present invention has been describedherein with reference to certain preferred or exemplary embodiments. Thepreferred or exemplary embodiments described herein may be modified,changed, added to or deviated from without departing from the intent,spirit and scope of the present invention, and it is intended that allsuch additions, modifications, amendment and/or deviations be includedwithin the scope of the followings claims.

1. A sizer for mounting to a post of a hanger, comprising: a bodyconfigured to surround at least a portion of said post, said body havinga split-wall construction to allow expansion of said body duringinstallation of said body about said post, said body further including alocking mechanism for locking said body into a closed position followinginstallation about said post.
 2. The sizer of claim 1, wherein said bodycomprises at least one sidewall containing said split-wall, saidsplit-wall defining first and second opposing edges on said sidewall. 3.The sizer of claim 2, wherein said locking mechanism comprisescooperating interfitting structure located along said edges of saidsidewall.
 4. The sizer of claim 3, wherein said interfitting structureincludes: a groove disposed on said first edge of said sidewall; and arib disposed on said second edge of said sidewall, wherein said rib isconfigured to engage said groove when said body is locked into saidclosed position.
 5. The sizer of claim 4, further comprising: at leastone tab disposed on the interior of said body for securing said body tosaid post.
 6. The sizer of claim 5, further comprising at least twopairs of opposing tab disposed on the interior wall of said body, saidtabs extending away from the interior wall and towards one another. 7.In combination: a hanger, comprising: a hanger body; a hook-receivingpost extending from said hanger body; a pair of struts connected to saidhanger body and located on opposing sides of said post, said posts andstruts defining at least one engagement cavity; a sizer for mounting toa post of a hanger, comprising: a sizer body configured to surround atleast a portion of a post, said sizer body having a split-wallconstruction to allow expansion of said sizer body during installationof said sizer body about said post, said sizer body further including alocking mechanism for locking said sizer body into a closed positionfollowing installation about said post.
 8. The combination of claim 7,wherein said sizer body comprises at least one sidewall containing saidsplit-wall, said split-wall defining first and second opposing edges onsaid sidewall.
 9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said lockingmechanism comprises cooperating interfitting structure located alongsaid edges of said sidewall.
 10. The combination of claim 9, whereinsaid interfitting structure includes: a groove disposed on said firstedge of said sidewalk and a rib disposed on said second edge of saidsidewall, wherein said rib is configured to engage said groove when saidsizer body is locked into said closed position.
 11. The combination ofclaim 10, further comprising: at least one tab disposed on the interiorof said sizer body for securing said body to said post.
 12. Thecombination of claim 11, further comprising at least two pairs ofopposing tab disposed on the interior wall of said sizer body, said tabsextending away from the interior wall and towards one another.
 13. Thecombination of claim 11, wherein said tab is located to engage saidcavity.
 14. The combination or claim 13, wherein said body includes foursidewalls defining a substantially rectangular cross-section.
 15. Thecombination of claim 13, wherein said sidewall is substantiallycontinuous and defines a substantially oval cross-section.